To eat healthy, it’s important to follow a balanced diet, which helps ensure proper nutrition and can help prevent non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, or heart disease, as well as related conditions.
The word “diet” is often misused, since it’s commonly associated with eating less or cutting back on certain foods.
“Diet” simply refers to the total sum of foods a person eats. And following a balanced diet built around healthy foods can meaningfully improve a person’s health.
What Makes a Meal Healthy?To follow a healthy diet, it’s important to consider each person’s individual characteristics, such as age, sex, activity level, and lifestyle. Cultural or religious background, food availability, and existing eating habits should also be considered.
There are no “bad” foods on their own, an unhealthy diet usually comes down to how often or how much of certain high-calorie foods are eaten, for example.
For a diet to be considered healthy, it should include the right amounts of each food type consistently.
So, eating well, combined with other healthy lifestyle habits, is a great way to support good health throughout life.
Because of this, it’s worth speaking with a nutritionist or dietitian, who can help design a diet suited to each person’s specific needs.
Balanced MealsA balanced meal is a well-rounded meal that provides the body with all the nutrients it needs, such as vitamins, protein, minerals, water, and fat.
Depending on a person’s lifestyle and age, the amounts needed of each type of food will vary.
The “Healthy Eating Plate”While every diet is different, the “Healthy Eating Plate” (Plato del Buen Comer) can generally be used as a guide. It classifies foods into three groups based on the body’s needs:
- Green group: includes fruits and vegetables, a source of vitamins, minerals, water, and fiber.
- Yellow group: includes grains and grain-based foods, a source of energy through carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
- Red group: includes legumes and animal-based products, which provide protein, vitamins, and minerals.
The Healthy Eating Plate aims to help each person maintain a healthy diet and a healthy weight to support good nutrition.
Food GroupsFood groups are commonly discussed as a classification of foods based on their origin or function, although the number of groups can vary depending on the source.
One common classification includes five food groups: grains, vegetables, fruits, meats, and dairy.
Another classification breaks foods into seven groups based on nutrient function: milk and dairy products; meat, fish, and eggs; legumes, nuts, and potatoes; vegetables; fruits; grains and their derivatives, sugar and sweets; and fats.
At ABC Medical Center’s Nutrition and Obesity Center, we can provide you with specialized care and answer all your questions about healthy eating. Contact us!
